SAN CLEMENTE, Chalone Warman: Thank you to contributing writer Rebecca Friedrichs for having the courage to challenge the tyranny of the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association [“Teachers stand against tyranny,” Opinion, Feb. 16].

Throughout my 30 years as a high school teacher in California’s public schools, I was often frustrated that my compulsory dues were used for political activism.

CTA’s stance on school choice, charter schools, left-leaning curriculum, merit pay, purchasing “air time” for pension benefits, supporting the incredible growth of the education bureaucracy, not to mention the defense of weak teachers, were just a few of the reasons I believed union membership should be voluntary.

This fundamental right will be possible through the success of Friedrichs’ efforts.

______

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Chuck Trout: The people who should be the most grateful for unions are Mexico, China and other foreign countries [“Unions matter when it comes to a living wage,” Letters, Feb. 18].

Due to unreasonable union demands, our manufacturing companies have moved out of the United States. Years ago, unions were necessary. Now they have become parasites killing our otherwise productive society.

Bring the presidentto UCI?

IRVINE, Mark Sarchet: I am perplexed as to why UC Irvine would want to invite the worst president in my lifetime to speak at their commencement [“UCI makes a play for Obama to speak at graduation,” Front Page, Feb. 18].

From the Affordable Care Act to the Internal Revenue Service to the disaster in Benghazi to the “stimulus” that wasn’t, this administration has been the most inept (corrupt?) in the past 60 years or more.

If UCI wants to have a public servant speak at their commencement, then I would strongly recommend one of our local representatives, such as Darrell Issa, Dana Rohrabacher or John Campbell.

If they just want a celebrity, I understand that Jay Leno has some time on his hands these days.

And it wouldn’t cost the taxpayers nearly as much money … not to mention the carbon footprint of Air Force One.

An Olympic champion

IRVINE, Judy Michalek: The heart and soul of being an Olympian is not so much in the winning, but in the challenging of the self – persevering in the midst of adversity [“Abbott lashed out at critics,” Sports, Feb. 15].

The Register article focused on the negative, using vocabulary such as “worst ever,” “ catastrophic crashes,” “dismal record” and “low point.”

There was no mention that, after his “remaining motionless for several seconds,” Abbott got up and nailed the rest of his program despite the pain and humiliation he suffered in front of millions of viewers.

Hopefully our youth will learn from Jeremy Abbott that a true Olympic champion is one whose human spirit triumphs whether or not he or she wins a medal.

State’s droughtrealities

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Matt Van Gorden: It’s ironic that one day the president is standing on former farmland, telling Californians that this once-fertile ground is now left fallow by our man-made drought, and the next day the same president is photographed playing golf on an expanse of green and lush vegetation surrounded by flowing fountains and lakes in one of the driest places in California.

First, can the president of the United States be so callous as to miss the irony of those two views, or does he even care? California tightens its water belt while the president enjoys one of the most decadent uses of water on planet Earth – the modern golf course.

Second, can the people running this state be so obtuse that they will spend money on a train that no one wants but neglect the most important commodity for the sustainment of human life?

I guess this is another version of let them eat cake: Let them eat turf.

Register’sclimate change coverage

BREA, Peggy Austin: Thank you for giving much needed attention to the reality of climate change in your Sunday Opinion section [Letters to the Editor, Feb. 16].

Momentum is gaining, and the Register is helping to guide us to solutions which will be good for America.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.